Inside Communist Poland's Cold War Liberalisation | Roving Report (1959)

In July 1959, Wladyslaw Gomulka had been in power for three years - coming to power after his political rival in the Communist Party, Boleslaw Bierut, died and the Party began a process of de-Stalinisation and reforming the previous Stalinist system.

But, despite a political "thaw" being underway, there were still significant challenges facing the Polish population behind the 'Iron Curtain'. This report explored the social and political climate in Poland, in the context of the liberalisation of the Communist system in Poland, and its opening up to Western culture and trade. ITN's Reporter also explored the ideological rift between the Communist government and the Catholic church.

This special ITN Roving Report was presented by ITN's Robin Day and filmed in Poland in July 1959. 'Roving Reports' was a series of documentary reports produced by ITN News from around the world, broadcast between 1957 and 1964.

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